There is probably no other city of its rank in this country so distinguished for its possession and its appreciation of art as Springfield. Its own production in painting or sculpture is not large, - in fact it has not produced a single sculptor; even its mortuary monuments are designed if not executed in Italy; while its painters, though we shall presently do them deserved honor, do not transcend in ability or exceed in number those of other cities no larger or more cultured. But the city which gives a home to the great and various art collections of George Walter Vincent Smith, - a home of beautiful architecture, without a fellow in its proportions and contents, - has no rivalry in comparison; and the support which for thirty years it has given to an annual exhibition of the art of American painters testifies to something very unusual in the constituency of the region.

The most extraordinary feature of the culture of this city is undoubtedly the Art Museum. It is now famed even beyond the boundaries of the continent; it is known in the European capitals and in the great east of far Asia. This is because it houses the collections of Mr. Smith. To this remarkable man is in simple truth due the credit for our reputation. The way in which he came to make his collections, and the causes which led him to choose the people of this city and its vicinage for his beneficiaries, must be known in the first place.

Mr. Smith is descended of a long New England ancestry, clearly traced from 1639. when Giles Smith settled in Hartford; and in his eight generations in America there came into his Puritan heritage twice a strain of the French Huguenot, which he regards as of moment in coloring his temperament and inducing his irresistible passion for art; which, while it never led him to essay any field of production, has swayed his whole life. Not to dwell upon the business career of many prosperous forebears, including his father, who died when he was two years old, it must be noted that he himself began work as a youth with a New York importing house, and rose to be its confidential assistant and manager; that later he engaged in a manufacturing enterprise on his own account and was prospered therein, but retired from it in 1867, when he was but thirty-five years old, to pursue a career more to his preference - the cultivation and development of his aesthetic tastes. He gave up money-making except as an incidental means of indulging these tastes, and having when only eighteen years old begun the acquirement of beautiful examples of art, this has been, ever since his retirement from active business pursuits, the one object of his life. Abjuring all display and luxury of living, he devoted his years to the culture of the art sense in Europe, in the society of artists and connoisseurs, and among the treasures of its galleries and museums, never neglecting interest in American art, and becoming the friend and patron of our home artists. He traveled widely, and became known first in Europe, and then by his purchases to the purveyors of Japanese and Chinese art. It is by this devotion to a single purpose that Mr. Smith gathered his marvelous collections, a considerable part of which are now in the Springfield Art Museum.

He came to be a resident of Springfield through marriage with Miss Belle Townsley, daughter of George R. Townsley, a highly-esteemed citizen of large public spirit and individual character. Various circumstances contributed to his determination to make here the final home of his collections and the repository of his lifework. The City Library association, under the wise management of Rev. Dr. William Rice, its first librarian, had been so chartered that it could include as a part of its educational scheme a permanent display of art in all fields, and when the time came, Mr. Smith offered to bequeath to the association his collections, and to endow them, on condition that they should be provided with suitable rooms for their display and their preservation intact and apart from all other gifts. At the same time Mrs. Smith offered her rare and fine collection of laces and embroideries. The conditions were accepted and the beautiful building, planned by the late Walter Tallant Owen of Springfield, in the noted architectural firm of Renswick, Aspinwall & Renwick, was built. From the bequest of $50,000 made by Horace Smith, $35,000 was drawn for the land, and toward the erection of the building sixty-nine individuals and firms of Springfield subscribed some $90,000, the larger conributors being Miss Harriet B. Hitchcock, John Olmsted, James A. Rumrill, James Kirkham, Miss Amelia Chapin Haile, P. P. Kellogg, Mrs. C. L. Covell and Mrs. Horatio N. Case. The names of all are inscribed on a bronze tablet at the entrance. The building, in Italian renaissance style, is one of the most beautiful examples of befitting architecture in the country. It should be noted that along its frieze, on the south-west side and on the front, are wrought in metal letters the names of the great artists, and for the first time in the world the names of Japanese and Chinese artists rank with those of Europe. In all this work, interior and exterior, Mr. Smith's taste was the governing factor.

There has not been too much space given to these preliminaries, since after all the collections are what make the city exceptional. Mr. Smith's scope of choice has been catholic; while the principal and striking feature of the collections is the predominance of the art in porcelains, cloisonne ware, bronzes, jades, iron, lacquer, and ivory, of Japan and China, there are also shown here the noteworthy examples of the armor of past ages, from complete suits of mail of the days of chivalry in Europe and Japan to the curious weapons of savage nations; missals and gospels of the Christian church before the days of printing, Jewish scrolls and Mohammedan manuscripts, Japanese books, and so on. There are also many examples of ancient carved furniture from Venice and other Italian cities. A striking rarity is a shrine by the famous Jacopo Sansovino. There are also vestments of the Roman church, and aristocratic coats and waistcoats and small clothes of the days "when a gentleman did not dress like a waiter." Several cabinets contain stuffs of the richest weaves and patterns from various lands. Wall cases contain rugs, the finest products of the patient weavers of Hindustan, Cashmere, Kurdistan, Turkistan, Daghestan and other Asiatic countries where this work is being done. Musical instruments are not made a specialty in the collection, but there are a few of these of curious interest - as curious as, more pleasing than, the kreeses of the Malay and the beheading knives - the cimeters - of the Filipinos, which make real to us the barbarisms of the East.

The display of Mrs. Smith's exquisitely chosen and arranged laces and embroideries occupies a number of cases in the largest hall of the museum, which was originally intended for a gallery of paintings, and which now has a few noteworthy canvases, among which is a portrait of a young Spanish grandee by Velasquez - presented to Mr. Smith by Mr. Renwick the architect, and in itself a distinction for a provincial town. There is also in this room a statue of modern Italian art given by Mr. Carnegie, in token of his admiration for the collections and the museum. It is a "Mercury in Repose." A noble wood interior by R. M. Shurtleff hangs on the walls, and a stunning example of the metallic style of painting, "The Village Tinker," by Henry Mosler. Around this gallery are distributed some of the most remarkable items of the Smith collection, among them a number fo Greek amphoras, rescued from the Ionian Sea a few years ago; some great Imari jars, beautiful old cabinets and fine suits of Japanese armor.

In the same building, on the first floor, is a large gallery of casts from the great Greek and Roman statuary, from the Italian Renaissance, from medieval religious sculpture, and though not a great collection, it is one wisely selected, and the room is called the Horace Smith hall of sculpture. There are two attractive audience halls, which open into each other, for the purpose of special meetings and of lectures in behalf of education and culture. These are adorned with many portraits of eminent citizens of Springfield, connected with the great city library institution, and in the halls and reading rooms of the William Rice building are many more portraits of historical value, not a few being also of importance in art; the works are by Chester Harding, William S. Elwell, Joseph O. Eaton, Thomas Waterman Wood, Irene Parmalee and others. The portraits of Doctor Rice, Samuel Bowles, Chester W. Chapin, Dr. David Smith, Horace Smith, George Bliss, Maj. G. W. Whistler - the railroad engineer, father of the celebrated artist James Abbott McNeil Whistler, - William Merrick, a generous benefactor of the city in many ways, after whom Merrick park was named, are here to be mentioned.

"Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort is the largest ski and snowboard resort in southern New England, summer home to Mountain Adventure Park and the only mountain resort in North America to generate its own energy using alternative wind power." ~ From the Jiminy Peak web site.

"When re-opened under the new name, the MassMutual Center (MMC) represents a major physical expansion and "elevation of services" of the original Springfield Civic Center building (SCC), which opened in 1972." ~ From the MMC web site.

"The William D. Mullins Memorial Center sits on Commonwealth Avenue on the western edge of the UMass campus. Overlooking the outdoor playing fields and offering a wide vista of the Hadley Hills and the Holyoke Range..." ~ From the Mullins Center web site.

"You need more laughter in your life. Don’t try to deny it. You know you do. So do I. We all do! Which is why the Happier Valley Comedy Show is not to be missed. On the second Saturday of every month at the Arts Block Cafe in Greenfield, we bring together incredible comedy talent to present hilarious, improvised shows in the Pioneer Valley! " ~ From the Ha-Ha Sisterhood web site.

"The Pillow presents dance from all over the world in all forms, styles, and traditions, plus approximately 200 free events each season, including performances, lectures, tours, film showings, exhibits, and talks with artists, which result in around 83,000 visitor experiences each summer." ~ From the Pillow web site.

"Our unique setting is a restored post-and-beam grainery building called Salmon Falls Marketplace, set on a knoll overlooking the historic Bridge of Flowers and Glacial Potholes... Experience the museum-quality setting and see for yourself why everyone's excited!" ~ From the Salmon Falls web site.

"Since 1999 The Wit Gallery has been a showcase for joyful, musical, witty and thoughtful art in all media. An acronym for "Wonders In Time” The Wit Gallery focuses on art that brings a feeling of warmth and hospitality which transcends time. The Wit gallery strives to connect each individual collector to the art which will bring him/her pleasure for years to come" ~ From the Wit Gallery web site.

Museums of Western MassachusettsA list of nearly fifty local museums, including the Basketball Hall of Fame and the Mass. Museum of Contemporary Art, arranged by town.
http://explorewmass.blogspot.com/2007/03/museums-of-western-massachusetts.html

"The Berkshire Choral Festival is a not-for-profit educational institution dedicated to enhancing the skills of choral singers while extending the knowledge and appreciation of choral singing and its tradition to singers and audiences." ~ From the Festival web site.

"Concerts are held in the Federated Church at Charlemont, which has been fully restored and air conditioned. The Church is a warm, intimate setting with superb acoustics, located directly on the Mohawk Trail amidst beautiful countryside and a wealth of other cultural and artistic attractions." ~ From the MTC web site.

"The established mission of the SSO is to maintain and develop a professional symphony orchestra that produces musical performances of high artistic quality; to entertain and educate our audiences; to expand and develop our audiences; and to sponsor related programs and concerts that enhance the musical life of the region we serve." ~ From the SSO web site.

"The Northampton Center for the Arts (NCFA) is a private, non-profit arts organization established in 1984 to promote the arts in the greater Northampton area. Located in downtown Northampton adjacent to the Academy of Music, NCFA provides low-cost exhibit and performance space for area artists and arts organizations in an elegant turn-of-the-century performance hall and two adjoining galleries. NCFA is dedicated to programming theater, music, art and dance that is culturally diverse." ~ From the NCFA web site.

"The Chester Theatre Company was founded as The Miniature Theatre of Chester in 1990 by Vincent Dowling. In its early years, CTC earned a reputation for language-rich, thought-provoking plays and for new works. This tradition has blossomed under the artistic direction of Byam Stevens, an accomplished actor, director, teacher, and dramaturg. Productions originating at CTC have played Off Broadway, and have toured regionally, nationally, and internationally." ~ From the CTC web site.

"Off-Broadway comedies, dramas and musicals are presented October through April in the intimate, 487-seat Blake Theatre; the 70-seat Winifred Arms Theatre is host to numerous community events, performances and meetings." ~ From the CityStage web site.

"...[I]n the culturally-rich Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts in Lenox, Shakespeare & Company aspires to create a theatre of unprecedented excellence rooted in the classical ideals of inquiry, balance, and harmony; a company that performs as the Elizabethans did — in love with poetry, physical prowess, and the mysteries of the universe.." ~ From the Shakespeare & Company web site.

"Town Players was founded in 1921 and is the 2nd oldest community theater group in the country. We are dedicated to "Bring the Best of Broadway to the Berkshires". Town Players produces three major productions a season ( Fall, Winter, Spring ) and occasional Special TP Workshop Productions." ~ From the Town Players web site.

"It looks like a medieval fortress, but a step inside the stone castle reveals the built-in couches, table trackway, and woodcarvings that all point to the creative genius that was William Gillette." ~ From the Gillette Castle web site.

"Welcome to Lake Compounce Family Theme Park, located in the heart of Connecticut, in nearby Bristol/Southington. We are your family's Daycation Destination! ...Check our operating schedule for hours of operation!" ~ From the Lake Compounce web site.

"A world at play and a world to its own, Mohegan Sun, created in 1996 by the Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut, is one of the world's most amazing destinations with some of New England's finest dining, hotel accommodations, retail shopping, live entertainment and sporting events. It is also host to the fabulous Kids Quest/Cyber Quest family entertainment facility, a luxurious day spa, convention center and meeting facility, as well as three major entertainment venues with seating from 300 to 10,000." ~ From the Mohegan Sun web site.

"Mystic Aquarium, one of America’s leading aquariums, showcases the living collections, science and conservation work of Sea Research through exhibits, demonstrations and educational programs, emphasizing hands-on, interactive, live animal contact experiences for all ages. Hosting more than 750,000 visitors annually, the Aquarium is open year-round and is Connecticut’s largest non-casino attraction. Mystic Aquarium is one of the few in North America housing Beluga whales and other rare and remarkable sea creatures." ~ From the Mystic Aquarium web site.

"The Brewer family and its staff are dedicated to the preservation and conservation of all animals. The Southwick team's mission: to provide an extensive zoological collection and educational facility for our visitors. We strive to promote an exciting environment for a positive family experience." ~ From the Southwick's Zoo web site.

"Howe Caverns offers guided cavern tours every day of the year except Thanksgiving and Christmas Days. Traditional Tours include a quarter-mile boat ride on the Underground Lake of Venus." ~ From the Howe Caverns web site.

"This beautifully restored village, set amongst acres of farm, woodland and pasture, is home to the premier collection of Shaker buildings and artifacts. Graceful Shaker furniture, craft and household items are exhibited in 20 historic buildings, each an architectural gem. The Round Stone Barn, most famous of all Shaker buildings, is a testament to Shaker efficiency, innovation and design." ~ From the Hancock Shaker Village web site.

"Historic Deerfield was incorporated in 1952 to sustain the work of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Flynt of Greenwich, Connecticut. In 1936, the Flynts enrolled their son at Deerfield Academy, a nationally-known college preparatory school founded in 1797, located in the center of Deerfield, Massachusetts. With the encouragement of Deerfield Academy’s headmaster, Frank Boyden, they began to purchase and restore the old houses along The Street to carefully restore them. Today, 11 historic houses and the Flynt Center of Early New England Life display collections of more than 25,000 objects made or used in America between 1650 and 1850." ~ From the Historic Deerfield web site.

"Old Sturbridge Village is one of the country’s oldest and largest living history museums, depicting early New England life from 1790-1840 with historians in costume, antique buildings, water-powered mills, and a working farm. Visitors can view antiques, meet heritage breed animals, and enjoy hands-on crafts. The Village is open year-round, but hours change seasonally." ~ From the Old Sturbridge Village web site.

"Storrowton Village Museum is an authentic, recreated village of nine 18th and 19th century buildings from Massachusetts and New Hampshire, assembled around a traditional town green. We offer living history programs and events to acquaint audiences of all ages to New England life in bygone days" ~ From the Storrowton Village web site.

Big Adventures: The Family Fun Center
The Mill at Crane Pond
77 Mill Street
Westfield, Massachusetts 01085
(413) 562-6146
"We are a family-owned business providing a fun, safe place for kids and families to come and enjoy themselves." ~ From the Big Adventures web site.

"Visit the Great Falls Discovery Center and learn about the Connecticut River Watershed's rich natural, cultural and industrial history. The Center is fully accessible and is housed within a complex of old mill buildings and includes open habitat exhibits, fish tanks, and a multipurpose program room. The four-acre park that surrounds The Center has butterfly gardens, native plantings views of the canal and river as well as safe play areas. This park is linked to a railtrail that runs from Turners Falls to Deerfield, a walking tour through downtown Turners Falls, and the watchable wildlife areas of Barton's cove and along the canal." ~ From the Discovery Center's web site.

"Welcome to the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round, located in historic Holyoke, Massachusetts, alongside the Heritage Park Visitor's Center, Children's Museum and Volleyball Hall of Fame. Our 1929 merry-go-round and pavilion is the perfect place for family fun, whether you're planning a birthday party, a business social or even dreaming of a special place to get married." ~ From the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round web site.

http://www.holyokemerrygoround.org/

Westfield-Southwick Macaroni Kid
"Macaroni Kid and its family of Publisher Moms are dedicated to delivering the scoop on all the family-friendly events and activities happening in their communities each week." ~ From the Macaroni Kid website.

"Berkshire East Canopy Tours are Western Massachusetts best new summer activity. Race your friends down the mountain top of Berkshire East Ski Area and prepare yourself to fly down 850 feet of 1/2" cable, 150 feet in the air at speeds up to thirty miles an hour." ~ From the Berkshire East web site.

"In the northern Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, Crab Apple Whitewater is pleased to bring you five different white water rafting adventures. River rafting trips range from mild to WILD, full or half-day. From beginners to more experienced rafters, our family will enjoy taking your family, group or organization down these beautiful rivers. Come see us this season!" ~ From the Crabapple web site.

"Try Zoar Outdoor’s newest adventure on a Deerfield Valley Canopy Tour in Charlemont Massachusetts. Our 3-hour-long zip line canopy tour leads adventurers on an aerial trek through the woods by means of zip lines and sky bridges suspended in the trees in the northern Berkshires and connected through platforms that sit high above the forest floor." ~ From the Canopy Tours web site.

"We create experiences that enhance the lives of our guests, our staff and our community through exposing people to the best human-powered outdoor adventures available. We strive to be leaders in the field of outdoor adventure through constantly rethinking and improving our programs." ~ From the Zoar Outdoor web site.

"Dinosaur footprints, fossilized plants, and delicate ripple marks of a prehistoric pool are preserved in stone at this reservation near the west bank of the Connecticut River." ~ The Trustees of Reservations.

"Located just one mile from where the very first dinosaur track was found, Nash Dinosaur Track Quarry and Rock Shop has been welcoming visitors since 1939." ~ From the Nash Dinosaur Track Quarry web site.

"Whether you are driving past beautiful vistas throughout Massachusetts or enjoying day at our majestic seacoast, be sure your itinerary includes a stop at one of the many agri-tourism destinations along the way. We are very proud of the over 250 farm attractions open to the public offering interesting and educational activities that will create memorable experiences." ~ From the MDAR web site.

"Today, the Botanic Garden includes thousands of plants, of course, and not just those grown under glass in the Lyman Conservatory or outdoors in various not-so-secret gardens. After all, Smith's 150-acre campus--our landscape for learning--is an arboretum, in other words, a living museum of plants. There is also a collection of dried plants. There are 60,000 pressed specimens available for research in the Herbarium." ~ From the Smith Botanic Garden web site.

http://www.smith.edu/garden/home.html

The Bridge of Flowers
Village Information Center
75 Bridge Street
Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts
"Every year visitors from around the world stroll across the Bridge of Flowers and enjoy the beauty of this unusual garden - the only one of its kind in the world." ~ From the Shelburne Falls web site.

"River Walk is a greenway trail along the Housatonic River in the downtown center of Great Barrington, Massachusetts, where 2200 citizen volunteers are working to reclaim the beauty of a 'working river' abused by years of industrial waste and neglect." ~ From the River Walk web site.

"Discover a geologic wonder at this 48 acre park. Examine the only naturally formed white marble arch and man-made white marble dam in North America, and tour an abandoned marble quarry." ~ From the DCR web site.

"The Department of Conservation and Recreation is steward of one of the largest state parks systems in the country. Its 450,000 acres is made up of forests, parks, greenways, historic sites and landscapes, seashores, lakes, ponds, reservoirs and watersheds." ~ From the DCR web site.

"The Ashuwillticook Rail Trail is a former railroad corridor converted into a 10-foot wide paved, universally accessible, passive recreation path. The Ashuwillticook runs parallel to Route 8 through the towns of Cheshire, Lanesborough and Adams." ~ From the DCR web site.

"The Norwottock Rail Trail is an 8.5 mile path linking Northampton, Hadley, and Amherst along the former Boston & Main Railroad right-of-way. The path's level terrain provides safe passage for pedestrians, wheelchairs, joggers, skaters, bicyclists, and cross-country skier of all ages and abilities." ~ From the DCR web site.

"From Spring through the Fall, the Lady Bea departs daily for 75-minute narrated cruises at 1:00, 4:00 & 7:00 PM. These daily cruises meander up the Connecticut River from Brunelles Marina to Northampton. The pristine waters, unspoiled views, sandy beaches and unmatched history will be a truly enjoyable experience for all." ~ From the Lady Bea web site.

"Situated in the heart of one of the highest concentrations of student populations in the Northeast, Hampshire Mall draws visitors from all parts of Western Massachusetts and Western New England, including the "knowledge corridor" of Springfield and Hartford." ~ From the Mall web site.

"Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory & Gardens, opened in October of 2000, consists of an 18,400-square foot facility that includes a 8,000-sq. ft. glass conservatory filled with butterflies, moths and tropical vegetation." ~ From the Magic Wings web site.

"The Zoo in Forest Park is a non-profit organization governed by the Forest Park Zoological Society. Situated in Forest Park, a 735 acre woodland park in Springfield, the Zoo features exotic and indigenous animals representing a large variety of species found throughout the world and in North America." ~ From the Zoo web site.